THE NEW MANUAL EXERCISE, by General BLAKNEY: To which i< added The EVOLUTIONS of the FOOT, by General BLAND CORRECTED, WITH ADDITIONS. PHILADEPHIA: Printed by B. FRANKLIN, at the New Printing Office in Market Street, MDCCXLVII With modernization< in language and punctuation to aid in comprehension A LIST Of the Word< of Command, a< they follow in Order in the Manual Exercise. TAKE CARE 1. Join your right hand< 28. Draw your bayonet<. To your firelock<. 29. Fix your bayonet<. 2. Poise your firelock<. 30. Rest your bayonet<. 3. Cock your firelock<. 31. Charge your bayonet< 4. Present. Breast high. 5. Fire. 32. Push your bayonet<. 6. Half cock your fire- 33. Present your bayonet<. Lock<. 34. Rest your bayonet< on 7. Handle your cartridge<. Your left arm. 8. Open your cartridge<. 35. Shoulder. 9. Prime. 36. To the front present10. Shut your pan<. Your arm<.11. Cast about to charge. 37. Face to the right.12. Charge with cartridge<. 38.)13. Draw your rammer<. 39.) Face to the right.14. Put them in the barrel. 40.)15. Recover your rammer<. 41. Face to the right about.16. Return your rammer<. 42. To the left about a<17. Shoulder. You were.18. Rest your firelock<. 43.)19. Order your firelock<. 44.)20. Ground your firelock<. 45.) Face to the left.21. Take up your fire- 46.) Lock<. 47. To the left about.22. Rest your firelock<. 48. To the right about.23. Club your firelock<. 49. Rest on your arm<. 24. Rest your firelock<. 50. Unfix your bayonet<.25. Secure your firelock<. 51. Return your bayonet<.26. Shoulder. 52. Rest your firelock<.27. Rest on your arm<. 53. Shoulder. THE NEW MANUAL EXERCISE, &c. Direction< for position of a soldier under arm I. A soldier having hi< firelock shouldered must stand with a straight body,holding up hi< head without moving, and alway< looking toward< thecommanding officer, or he who exercise< the battalion; nor to use any motion butwhat the word of command, when given, direct<. II. Hi< feet are to be at one step distance (from each other), the heel< in astraight line, and the toe< turned a little outward<. III. The firelock must lie on the left shoulder, and the left hand on the butend, the thumb being placed in the hollow thereof, pressing the guard against thebreast, that the muzzle may be mounted; the lock must be turned a little outwardtill the under part of the butt i< brought opposite to the middle of the body, thatthe firelock may be more easily borne. "TAKE CARE" At thi< word every man must be silent, stand firm, and not move hand orfoot, but attend carefully to the word< of command. 1. "JOIN YOUR RIGHT HANDS TO YOUR FIRELOCKS!" 1 motion. Turn the lock upward< with the left hand and, at the same time, take holdwith your right hand close behind the lock drawing down the firelock a little.Keep the elbow< square and the muzzle of the firelock at the same height a<when shouldered. The first motion of each word of command must be done instantly upongiving it; but when there are more motion< than one, you are to tell, "One,Two," slowly making a small pause between the word<; and on the word "Two" the motion is performed.2. "POISE YOUR FIRELOCKS!" 1 motion. With the left hand, depres< the butt briskly toward< the body, which willmake the piece fly off from your shoulder toward< the front and throw it into anerect position where you must stop it by seizing it with your left hand just abovethe lock, the little finger touching the spring, the arm< extended, the lock to thefront, the left thumb lying up the piece, and the piece so high that you may lookon a level line through the guard.3. "COCK YOUR FIRELOCKS!" 2 motion<. Bring the piece to the right side of our head the lock to the right andabout a< high a< your ear. At the same time bring up your right foot, placing theheel very near the hollow of the left foot, the toe pointing to the right. Tell"One, Two!" and seize the cock with your right thumb, bend it, and throw thepiece out to the front, the barrel toward< you and directly perpendicular. Thi< i<the same posture a< the firelock in the recover.4. "PRESENT!" 1 motion. Take your thumb from the cock and step out to the right with the rightfoot, the toe to the right, the body the the front. Place the butt end betwixt theright shoulder and breast with the elbow< square, the forefinger before thetrigger, the other< behind the guard, the right knee stiff, the left a little bent,the head upright, the body straight, the muzzle well leveled breast high.5. "FIRE!" 1 motion. Draw the trigger briskly with your forefinger, and if the cock doe< not godown, don't attempt it again at that time.6. "HALF COCK YOUR FIRELOCKS!" 2 motion<. Bring down the firelock to the right side with the barrel slopeing upward<.Tell "One, Two!" and with the thumb seize the cock and half bend it.7. "HANDLE YOUR CARTRIDGES!" 2 motion<. Step back with your right foot almost behind your left. At the same time, bring the piece up close under your arm and clap your hand to your cartridgebox. Tell, "One, Two!" and draw forth your cartridge.8. "OPEN YOUR CARTRIDGES!" 2 motion<. Bring your cartridge between your thumb and forefinger to your teeth andbreak open the end of it. Tell "One, Two!" and bring it down to your pan readyto prime.9. "PRIME!" 1 motion. Empty a little of the powder of your cartridge into your pan.10. "SHUT YOUR PANS!" 1 motion. Bring the smaller finger< of your right hand behind the steel (ie. Frizzen),shut the pan briskly, and let the finger< remain till the next word of command.11. "CAST ABOUT TO CHARGE!" 1 motion. The cartridge remaining between your thumb and forefinger and with thehelp of your other finger< on the back of the steel, sink the butt till the piece i<almost in an upright position bringing it around to your left side. Steppingforward with your right foot, let the piece fall to a slope by your left side and slipyour right hand up to the muzzle ready to charge.12. "CHARGE WITH CARTRIDGE!" 2 motion<. Turning up the hand with the palm out, enter the cartridge into the muzzlewith the open end downward<. Tell, "One, Two!" and give it a slapwith yourfinger< to put it all the way in.13. "DRAW YOUR RAMMERS!" 3 motion<. Place your forefinger on the top of the rammer gripping it at the same timebetween your thumb and middle finger. Tell "One, Two!" and draw yourrammer a< far a< it can reach. Slip down your hand briskly taking the rammernear the muzzle, your thumb and forefinger being turned downward<. Tell"One, Two!", draw your rammer quite out, turn and shorten it to a hand'< breadthon the right breast holding it in the same degree of slope with your piece. 14. "PUT THEM IN THE BARREL!" 3 motion<. Bring the rammer a little above the muzzle, place the thick end on thecartridge, and thrust it down a< far a< your hand will permit. Tell "One, Two!",raise your hand, and seize the rammer about the middle and thrust it down tillyour hand touche< the muzzle. Tell "One, Two!", seize it again at the topthrusting it down a< far a< it will do and ram down the charge.15. "RECOVER YOUR RAMMERS!" 2 motion<. Draw forth about half your rammer with a quick motion, give it a spring,and briskly slip down your hand, your thumb turned downward<, and take it bythe middle. Tell "One, Two!", draw it quite out, turn and shorten it against yourbreast to nine inche<, and hold it in the same slope with the piece.16. "RETURN YOUR RAMMERS!" 3 motion<. Bring the small end of the rammer with a gentle turn under the barrel, placeit in the stock, and thrust it in a< far a< your hand will permit. Tell "One, Two!",raise your hand, and seize the rammer in the middle, and thrust it down again tillyour hand touche< the muzzle. Tell "One, Two!", raise your hand and place thepalm of it upon the upper end of your rammer and thrust it quite down.17. "SHOULDER!" 3 motion<. Bring the firelock upright opposite to your left shoulder near your ear, thelock in the bending of the left elbow, seizing at the same time under the lockwith your right hand. Tell "One, Two!", fall back with your right foot, and atthe same time let the piece fall smartly on your shoulder seizing it with your lefthand on the butt. Tell "One, Two!", and quit with the right hand letting it fallto the right side.18. "REST YOUR FIRELOCKS!" 3 motion<. Join your right hand to your firelock a< (done) in explanation 1. Tell "One,Two!", and come to the poise a< in explanation 2. Tell "One, Two!", and turningthe barrel toward< you, bring the butt end down to the inside of the right kneestepping at the same time a little back with your right foot, the toe pointing tothe right, the right knee stiff, the left a little bending, keeping your body very straight. The firelock must lean a little to the front, and both the body and facemust present themselve< to the front a< much a< possible without constraint.19. "ORDER YOUR FIRELOCKS!" 3 motion<. Raise the muzzle of the firelock so that it i< directly upright by the rightside. At the same time slip up the left hand a< high a< the right shoulder and sinkthe piece with the right a< low a< you can without constraint or stooping. Tell"One, Two!", (then) quit (your firelock) with the right hand, sink the firelockwith the left over the toe; at the same time seize with the right hand near themuzzle , the thumb upward<. Tell "One, Two!", quit the left hand letting it fallon the left side. Bring up the right foot to it< line placing the firelock on theoutside even with the little toe, the lock outward<. Thi< (last motion) i< to beperformed in such a manner that the right foot and the butt end of the firelockcome to the ground at the same time. The heel< must be in a straight line (at one step distance from each other),the toe< turned outward and the right arm, from the hand to the elbow, runningalong the outside of the firelock, the left arm down the left side.20. "GROUND YOUR FIRELOCKS!" 4 motion<. Turn the firelock with the right hand till the lock point< to the rear andthe barrel toward< your right side. At the same time, quit the muzzel with theright hand, seize it with the left, and bring the right hand down to the middle ofthe barrel and seize it there in such a manner a< that both hand< join the piece atonce, placing the right foot behind the butt, the toe pointing to the right. Tell"One, Two!", step a moderate pace forward with the left foot, lay down thefirelock bending the right knee at the lock (with) the piece (lying) in a straightline to the front. Tell "One,Two!", rise up briskly bringing your left foot to it<place. Throw off the right hand open to the front. Tell "One,Two!", turn yourright foot on the heel over the butt and at the same time turn your right hand toyour side, the palm inward<, your body full to the front.21. "TAKE UP YOUR FIRELOCKS!" 4 motion<. Turn the right foot on the heel over the butt turning the toe directly tothe right. At the same time throw off your right hand with an easy motion. Tell"One, Two!", step forward with the left foot, the right knee bending to the lock,taking the firelock by the middle of the barrel with your right hand. Tell "One, Two!", rise up with the firelock bringing it up with your left hand at the muzzle,the piece close to your right shoulder, your left foot at the same time coming toit< line. Tell "One, Two!" and quit (the piece) with the left hand, bringing upthe right hand to the muzzle, turning the barrel toward< your shoulder, the lockto the right and placing the right foot on the inside of the butt. Thi< posture i<the same a< in explanation 19. Observe that, in grounding and taking up their arm<, the men are to holdup their head<.22. "REST YOUR FIRELOCKS!" 3 motion<. Quit the muzzle with the right hand and seize it with the left. At the sametime, seize it with the left. At the same time, seize the barrel with the righthand a< low a< the arm will extend without constraint or bending the body. Tell"One, Two!", bring the firelock directly before you, the right hand a< high a< theface, the lock outward<, at the same time seizing it with the left so that the littlefinger touches the spring. Tell "One, Two!", quit with your right hand, let fallthe arm< turning the lock to the right, and place the right hand behind the lock.At the same time step away with the right foot observing the position ofexplanation 18.23. "CLUB YOUR FIRELOCKS!" 4 motion<. Keep the firelock firm in your left hand, cast the butt from you with theright so that the barrel passe< close to your shoulder, and take hold of the firelocka< low a< you can reach with the right hand, the muzzle and left thumbdownward< and the lock to the right a< high a< your cheek. Tell "One,Two!",raise the firelock with the right hand opposite to the left shoulder turning thelock to the front and bringing up the right foot. At the same time, seize it withthe left hand very near the muzzle with extended arm<. Tell "One, Two!", bringthe firelock to the left shoulder with the lock upward< and the elbow< square.Tell "One, Two!", bring your right hand briskly down to the right side at thesame time let fall your left elbow. Stand in the shoulder position.24. "REST YOUR FIRELOCKS!" 4 motion<. Turn the firelock with the left hand inward<. Thi< bring< the barrelupward<. At the same time, take hold of it with the right hand a little above theleft keeping the elbow< square. Tell "One, Two!", bring the firelock nimbly before your face with outstreched arm<, the barrel to the front. Tell "One,Two!", sink the firelock with the right hand opposite to the right side close tothe ear, the lock to the right. At the same time, place the left hand behind thefirelock, the thumb downward< and the little finger touching the spring. Tell"One, Two!", quit with your right hand bringing the butt down passing thebarrel close by your right elbow. Place your right hand behind the lock, stepback with the right foot, and come to your rest.25. "SECURE YOUR FIRELOCKS!" 2 motion<. Bring the piece briskly to an upright position opposite to the left shoulderturning the barrel to the front and slipping the left hand at the same time to ahand'< breadth above the lock and bring up the right foot. Tell "One, Two!",quit with your right hand throwing the firelock under the left arm, the lock alittle below the elbow, the barrel downward<, the muzzle within a foot of theground.26. "SHOULDER!" 3 motion<. Bring the firelock up nimbly to the position described in the first motion ofexplanation 17. Tell "One, Two!", quit with the left hand bringing it under theright placing the firelock on the left shoulder. Tell "One, Two!" and quit withyour right hand bringing it down briskly to your right side.27. "REST ON YOUR ARMS!" 4 motion<. Join your right hand to the firelock. Tell "One, Two!" and come to thepoise. Tell "One, Two!" and quit the firelock with your right hand sinking itwith your left a< low a< your arm will permit without constraint. Seize it at thesame time with your right hand near the muzzle. Tell "One,Two!" and bring thebutt to the ground slipping your left hand at the same time up to your right.Keep your elbow< square.28. "DRAW YOUR BAYONETS!" 2 motion<. Step back with your right foot and seize your bayonet with your righthand. Tell "One, Two!", draw it out briskly, bring it up and place it uprightover the muzzle. Enter it on the barrel.29. "FIX YOUR BAYONETS!" 3 motion<. Thrust down the socket of the bayonet a< far a< the notch will permit. Tell"One, Two!", turn the bayonet from you and fix it. Tell "One, Two!", quit thehandle of the bayonet and seize the firelock just under it with your right handplacing the palm on the back of the left (hand).30. "REST YOUR BAYONETS!" 3 motion<. Raise the firelock with your right hand in a perpendicular line a< high a<your forehead. Slipping down your left (hand) at the same time, seize thefirelock a little above the lock. Tell "One, Two!", quit the firelock with yourright hand and raise it with the left. At the same time, seize it with your righthand under the lock observing the same position a< directed by explanation 2.Tell "One, Two!" and, turning the barrel toward< you, come to your rest, a< inexplanation 18.31. "CHARGE YOUR BAYONETS BREAST HIGH!" 2 motion<. Bring up the butt to your right shoulder with the piece level to the front a<in presenting to give fire. Tell "One, Two!" and step back with your right footslipping your right hand behind the butt and carrying the piece a< far a< you canextend your right arm, the barrel resting on the bend of your left but still leveland pointing to the front, the thumb and finger< of the left hand pointing to thebutt.32. "PUSH YOUR BAYONETS!" 2 motion<. Push your firelock with both hand< straight forward until your left arm i<quite extended, the left knee bending a little, and the body leaning somewhatforward. Tell "One, Two!" and bring it back to it< former place.33. "PRESENT YOUR BAYONETS!" 1 motion. Bring forward the firelock a< if you were going to make a second push, butsink the butt, turning it at the same time three quarter< around with the lockpassing under. At the same time, kneel down on the right knee facing to thefront, place the butt in the bending of the body on the left side with the lockupward, the left elbow resting on the left knee and the piece sloping upward< tothe front. 34. "REST YOUR BAYONETS ON YOUR LEFT ARM!" 1 motion. Rise up, turn the lock to the front, take hold with your right hand belowthe lock. Sinking the firelock, take hold of the cock and steel with the left withthe cock lying on the middle finger and the steel on the lower joint of thethumb, the under part of the stock resting on the bend or middle of the left arm,the barrel upward<, the butt sloping downward< toward< the middle spacebetween your thigh<, keeping both hand< a< low a< you can without constraint.The butt and muzzle must be kept at an equal distance from your body, thefirelock running in a triangular line.35. "SHOULDER!" 3 motion<. Quit the lock with the left hand and, with a spring of your left arm, throwthe piece off from your body; seize it above the lock bringing the piece up tothe poise. Tell"One, Two!" and, turning the barrel outward< with your righthand, quit with the left and seize the butt, at the same time bringing down thepiece to the left shoulder. Tell "One, Two!" and bring down your right hand toyour side.36. "TO THE FRONT, PRESENT YOUR ARMS!" 3 motion<. Thi< i< only coming to a rest, a< in explanation 18.37. "FACE TO THE RIGHT!" 3 motion<. Bring up the firelock with a quick motion before you placing the right heelin the hollow of the left foot, the toe (of the right foot) pointing to the right, thelock a< high a< your face, the barrel toward< you, the arm< extended. Tell "One,Two!" and face on the left heel to the right a quarter of the circle keeping thefirelock recovered. Tell "One, Two!" and come nimbly to your rest steppingback a little with the right foot a< in explanation 18. In the performing of the second motion, which i< the facing, the soldier<must take care not to move their left heel< from the ground but only to turn them(so) that they may keep their rank< and file< straight. (They must also take care)to place their right feet in a line with their left keeping their firelock< in the trueposition of a recover till they perform the third motion, which i< the rest.38, 39, 40. "FACE TO THE RIGHT!" 3 motion< each. Each of these word< of command must be performed at 3 motion<, a< i<above directed in explanation 37, which complete< the circle in four time<.41. "FACE TO THE RIGHT ABOUT!" 3 motion<. Thi< i< to be performed at 3 motion< a< in the foregoing explanation onlythey face half the circle to the right.42. "TO THE LEFT ABOUT AS YOU WERE!" 3 motion<. Thi< i< done on the left heel a< in the above explanation 41, only they facehalf the circle to the left, which bring< them to their proper front.43, 44, 45, 46. "FACE TO THE LEFT!" 3 motion< each. These facing< must be performed in the same manner a< those to the right,on the left heel, with thi< difference only: that they face to the left.47. "TO THE LEFT ABOUT!" 3 motion<. Thi< i< half the circle to the left.48. "TO THE RIGHT ABOUT AS YOU WERE!" 3 motion<. You are to face half the circle to the right, which bring< you to your properfront, and complete< the facing<.49. "REST ON YOUR ARMS!" 3 motion<. Come to the poise. Tell "One, Two!" and sink the firelock with your lefthand a< in explanation 27.50. "UNFIX YOUR BAYONETS!" 3 motion<. Slip the bayonet up with the right hand. Tell "One, Two!" and turn ittoward< you. Tell "One, Two!" and slip it quite off the barrel keeping it upright.51. "RETURN YOUR BAYONETS!" 3 motion<. Step back a little with your right foot and, turning the point of thebayonet down, enter it in the scabbard. Tell "One, Two!" and thrust it quite in.Tell "One, Two!" and bring up your foot seizing the firelock with your righthand.52. "REST YOUR FIRELOCKS!" 3 motion<. A< before in explanation 30.53. "SHOULDER!" 3 motion<. Bring the firelock up briskly to a poise. Tell "One, Two!" and shoulder a<directed in explanation 35.WHEN the battalion i< to make ready at three word< of command, it i< to beperformed in the following manner1. "MAKE READY!" At thi< they are to perform all that i< contained in the first three word< ofcommand of the manual exercise.2. "PRESENT!" At thi< command they are only to perform what i< directed by the fourthword of command of the said exercise.3. "GIVE FIRE!" Thi< i< performed a< in explanation 5, after which they are to go on withthe exercise till they have primed and loaded, and when they come to theshouldering of the firelock, they are to finish, which contain< the 17th word ofcommand. THIS complete< the Manual Exercise http://www.thebattalion.org/files/Blakney%27s%20New%20Exercise%201747%20of%20Foot.pdf

I believe, that to get a better grasp of 18th century life, you need to go back in time. That is why our 18th century Living History group's time period is 1680 to 1760. For me to remain in my period of interest, 1740, as I get older, I must move my Birth date back in time !I hope you enjoy the following videos. I have jumped ahead a little to Xmas, as it is that time of year, but I will include all of the series.Keith.

Recently someone contacted me and told me that to date they had not managed to make fire with flint and steel using uncharred punk wood. At the same time he quoted a passage from an Indian captivity document claiming that a John Tanner had indeed accomplished this. However, having read the passage that I think he is referring to, I think it more likely that John Tanner used gunpowder on the rotten wood in order for it to catch a spark. Here below is the quote in question:

"Owing to our hands being benumbed
with the cold, it was long before we could extricate ourselves from our snow
shoes, and we were no sooner out of the water than our moccasins and clothes were
frozen so stiff that we could not travel. I began also to think that we must
die. But I was not like my Indian brother, willing to sit down and wait
patiently for death to come. I kept moving about to the best of my power, while
he lay in a dry place by the side of the bank where the wind had blown away the
snow. I at length found some very dry rotten wood which I used as a substitute
for spunk, and was so happy as to raise a fire. We then applied ourselves to
thaw and dry our moccasins, and when partly dry we put them on, and went to
collect fuel [Page 24] for a larger fire than we had before been able to make".

Now although no mention is made here of using gunpowder, it is obvious to me that this method was known to John Tanner, and that he had used this method before. Note this earlier comment by John Tanner:

"Fortunately the water was not
deep about the rock, nor between it and the land, and though a thin ice had
formed, I was able to break it, and carry my children on shore. But here we had
nearly perished from cold, as my spunk wood was wet, and I had no means of
kindling a fire, until I thought to split open my powder horn, when I found in
the middle of the mass of powder, a little which the water had not reached.
This enabled me to kindle a fire, and was the means of saving all our lives".

Note also the term "spunk" is used and not "punk". This I think is the first time I have heard this term used for tinder rather than sulphur tipped splints which are known as spunks.

Here are a couple of videos I made on the use of gunpowder for making fire:

Well there is only about a week to go to Xmas, and I hope you all have a good one. Our family will not be here until the 28th, so I guess we will have some sort of Xmas then. Being in Australia, this means Xmas in Summer, something I have never got a handle on and some how it just doesn't feel like Xmas. We will however celebrate Winter Solstice.I hope you all get something from Santa that you want or need. Usually for me it is something inexpensive & practicle like some beeswax or linen thread, but this year I simply can't think what to put on my "Wants List". But I am thankful that all my family are well, and that I am still relatively mobile ! I must get out in the forest more once the fire season is over and Winter has arrived. I hope we get some snow this year that will actually lay !!!Take care everyone and stay safe.Regards, Keith.

Our new poster for the 9th Experimental Archaeology Conference (EAC9) in Ireland, 16-18 January 2015 - the world's leading experimental archaeologists, with over 50 lectures, posters and demonstrations, all the way from building Neolithic houses, to baking Medieval bread, from making inks, to teaching children through experimental archaeology. Register at the websitehttp://www.ucd.ie/archaeology/eac9/ and come to Ireland! (with thanks to Conor McDermott, UCD School of Archaeology for the lovely poster, with images from UCD Centre for Experimental Archaeology and Ancient Technologies!)

Monday, 1 December 2014

Knitting sheaths were attached to the waist and used to support one knitting needle so that the knitter only needed to use one hand for plain knitting. Many women supplemented their incomes by making knitted goods for sale and a knitting sheath made it possible to knit while carrying out other domestic chores, in particular carrying or feeding infants.

Knitting sheaths were often made as love tokens. This carved boxwood example bears the initials AT and the date 1679 with an inscription, 'I am box and brass within, my place is on your apron string'. The hole at the top of the sheath to hold the needle is lined with brass.

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Settlers.

"I noticed particularly, one family of about 12 in number. The mancarried an axe and a gun on his shoulders. The Wife, the rim of a spinningwheel in one hand, and a loaf of bread in the other. Several little boys andgirls, each with a bundle, according to their size Two poor horses, eachheavily loaded with some poor necessities. On the top of the baggage of one,was an infant rocked to sleep in a kind of wicker cage, lashed securely to thehorse. A cow formed one of the company ,and she was destined to bear herproportion of service - a bed cord was wound around her horns and a bag of mealon her back. They were not only patient, but cheerful and pleased withthemselves with the expectation of seeing happy days beyond the mountains"Diary of Presbyterian Rev. David McClure.18th century.

What is Living History?

What is Living History?Living history makes history come to life. To do this members emulate different sorts of people from history. These can include blacksmiths, seamstresses, housewives, farmers, woodsmen and woodswomen. We wear the clothes of the time and learn and use the life and trade skills of the period.What period of history does the NECLHG re-enact ?Approximately 1680-1760 on the New World Frontier.Why this period of history and why a New World lifestyle and not Australian?The New World was settled much earlier than Australia and enables us to choose from a larger variety of nationalities, occupations and skills. All of these options make the activities more fun.Australian settlement was in a later period and founded on a penal colony. There are other re-enactment groups for people interested in the Australian colonial period.Is joining NECLHG expensive?No. There are no membership fees for the group. The activity is only as expensive as you want it to be! Many members make all their own period style clothing and equipment. This is an ideal activity for people who like to make things and be creative.What if there are some items I can not make myself or I am too busy to make?You always have the option of buying or trading for items. People who want to purchase their clothing and equipment can do so; there are many specialist suppliers. Also you can trade for items you can not make .Can my family join this group?Yes we are very family oriented.What is experimental archaeology?This is the term used when someone makes and uses a period tool or item. This can be anything from lighting a fire with a flint and steel to building and sailing a ship on an original route! It is the only way to really discover how things were done “back then”.What is historical trekking?This activity is trekking and camping in an historically accurate manner. People on a historical trek wear the clothing of the period and carry and use only the equipment used in that period. These treks are a great way to learn woods lore and survival skills.What sort of “period skills” can we learn and practice?You can learn and use any skill that was used in the period you reenact. For the mid-18th century these include spinning and weaving on a loom, finger weaving, tomahawk throwing, fire lighting, blade sharpening, leather making and leather working and much, much more.Is the NECLHG a gun club?No. Some on our members may carry a period gun on treks and camps as part of their persona. These guns are flintlock muzzle-loading antique guns or copies. The highest level of safely is maintained at all times. Guns are not carried loaded and all gun carrying members are licensed.What about women members?In the 18th century women performed many traditional and non traditional roles. There were women blacksmiths, naturalists, artists, and woods-women. Some accompanied militia on scouts . In the NECLHG a women can be what ever she wants to be!What about children.?Children are always welcome. Naturally children are the responsibility of their parents. Children really enjoy the living history activities and skills. It is a wonderful way to learn history and it makes their school based history a lot more meaningful. Also children can learn bush craft, survival skills and camping skills.